CADD DESIGNER JOB DESCRIPTION

Producing a contract-ready drawing set is one thing. Producing one that survives a structural review, a site audit, and a QA/QC pass without revision cycles is another. That gap is what the CADD Designer closes on construction and structural projects, where drawings for reinforced concrete, steel connections, and grading plans must comply with Construction Design and Management regulations and internal drafting standards before they reach engineers or site crews. The role sits within multidisciplinary project teams and owns the translation of engineering input into construction-ready documents. Accurate output here is non-negotiable.

As the CADD Designer, you convert engineering sketches, survey data, and design guidance into complete construction document sets for structural and civil projects spanning site layout, quantity takeoff, and fabrication drawing production. You work within a project team reporting to design staff or a design manager, supporting deliverables that move directly into contractor hands.

Career Impact: Hands-on ownership of construction document sets, including structural fabrication drawings for reinforced concrete and steel design, builds a portfolio that is directly legible to hiring managers across the civil and structural engineering market.

Business Impact: Contractors depend on the drawing sets this role produces to price, sequence, and execute site work, meaning errors or omissions in plan sets translate directly into field delays and cost overruns.

Growth Opportunity: Exposure to grading plans, as-built documentation, structural detailing, and QA/QC procedures in a single role creates a broad technical base that supports progression toward Senior CADD Designer or Lead Designer positions.

• Prepare construction drawing sets including plans, profiles, sections, and details from engineering input and internal drafting standards.
• Develop site layout drawings covering earthwork, grading plans, quantity takeoffs, and field investigation locations.
• Detail structural elements including reinforced concrete reinforcement layouts and steel connection designs.
• Produce cross sections, topographical profiles, and construction as-built drawings for project records.
• Maintain drawing files, sheet sets, and CAD standards in accordance with internal document control procedures.
• Review completed drawings against project specifications and quality standards before submission to design staff.
• Train technical staff on drafting standards, requirements, and established office procedures.

• Bachelor's degree or Associate degree in Drafting and Design, Engineering Technology, or a related field, or equivalent work experience.
• 3 or more years of CAD drafting and design experience in civil engineering, construction, or a production design organization.
• Knowledge of Construction Design and Management regulations and the ability to apply them to drawing deliverables.
• Demonstrated ability to develop large, multifaceted drawing sets from base data including survey, engineering sketches, and GIS inputs.
• Experience producing structural design and fabrication drawings for reinforced concrete and steel construction.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to recognize discrepancies across drawing sets and resolve them before they reach review.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent deliverables under deadline pressure with minimal oversight.

• CAD certification from a technical school or accredited training organization.
• Experience with industrial facility layout and design, including excavation planning and site grading.
• Background in bridge design and construction documentation preferred.
• Familiarity with controlled document management systems and version-controlled drawing file workflows.

• Drawing revision rate, measuring how often issued documents require re-work after engineering review.
• QA/QC pass rate on first submission, tracking drawing sets cleared without major markups.
• Quantity takeoff accuracy, measured against final contractor-verified earthwork and material volumes.
• As-built completion rate, reflecting timely and complete documentation of field changes against issued drawings.
• On-time delivery rate of plan sets against project milestone schedule.
• Typical tools: CAD drafting platforms (commonly AutoCAD Civil 3D or MicroStation); structural detailing software (commonly Revit or Autodesk Inventor).

• Base Salary Range: $58,000 to $88,000 per year depending on seniority and location.
• Bonus: project-based or annual performance bonus, typically 3 to 8 percent of base.
• Equity: not standard for this role at most construction and engineering firms.
• Health Benefits: medical, dental, and vision coverage standard across most employers.
• PTO: 10 to 20 days annually, plus standard federal holidays.
• Common Perks: Professional development reimbursement, CAD software training, and mileage reimbursement for project site travel.

Figures are estimates based on general US market benchmarks and may be outdated. Adjust based on location, company size, and seniority level.

Background check completion, including criminal history review, is a condition of employment for all positions. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. Reasonable accommodations are available to applicants and employees with disabilities upon request. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States prior to their start date.

The CADD Designer owns the preparation and review of composite utility plans, relocation designs, and engineering drawings for transit and infrastructure projects. Working within a multidisciplinary team, this role shapes the accuracy of subsurface utility engineering deliverables and enables project stakeholders to resolve design conflicts on time.

Key Responsibilities

• Read, understand, and interpret various types of utility drawings.
• Prepare reference concept plans, composite utility plans, relocation plans, and engineering drawings.
• Perform relocation design of municipal and private third party utilities on civil infrastructure projects.
• Assist in preparing conceptual sketches, presentations, and exhibits that clearly outline constraints for presentation to management and project stakeholders.
• Collaborate with various project disciplines and teams to reflect interfacing designs on proposed relocation plans and exhibits.
• Review interface designs against existing and proposed utility infrastructure and work collaboratively with various project teams to resolve conflicts.
• Review performed SUE, incorporating information into plans and exhibits, and assist in coordinating with SUE providers for additional subsurface utility investigation.

Required Qualifications

• College degree or Technical Program in Civil or Structural Engineering, or Architectural Technologies.
• Eligibility for ASET registration as a Certified Engineering Technician or Technologist.
• Minimum 5 to 6 years of hands-on working experience as a CAD Technician or in a similar position.
• Ability to complete CAD work in accordance with Subsurface Utility Engineering Standards, CI/ASCE 38-02.
• Proficiency in AutoDesk Software, with familiarity with Bentley Software Design Packages as an asset.
• Strong fundamental understanding of Civil 3D design, ideally within civil infrastructure and transit market segments.
• Excellent time management skills, with the ability to set priorities and complete deliverables on time.
• Self-starter with strong analytical and problem-solving skills to understand tasks required to deliver projects successfully.

Embedded within the Water Business Group, the CADD Designer leads the development of construction documents, 3D models, and engineering drawings across wastewater, drinking water, and water resource projects. Working closely with project managers and CADD team members in multiple locations, this role delivers coherent plan sets that meet both company and client standards.

Core Functions

• Lead the development of plans for construction documents, producing drawings and 3D models to develop a coherent set of documents.
• Mentor and lead others during project delivery and execution of work.
• Collaborate with project managers and other CADD team members for local and remote projects in developing figures, exhibits, project models, and construction contract drawings.
• Implement CADD standards for project setup and execution so project documents meet company expectations and work with client standards when applicable.
• Provide leadership on the implementation of project QA/QC procedures and uphold a culture of quality.
• Perform civil-related drafting utilizing AutoCAD Civil 3D, including alignments, profiles, surfaces, assemblies, corridors, and earthwork quantity calculations.

Qualifications and Experience

• Associate Degree or vocational school training in drafting preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of applicable civil drafting and design experience.
• Strong knowledge of plan preparation and experience applying drafting standards and established company procedures.
• Knowledge and capability of preparing simple grading, drainage, and site improvement designs preferred.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD Civil 3D 2018 or 2020 preferred.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong attention to detail.

Reporting to design staff, the CADD Designer leads the preparation of CAD drawings including plans, profiles, sections, and details for contract documents across civil and structural disciplines. Partnering with engineering and technical teams, this role builds high-quality drawing sets from base data and delivers training that strengthens drafting standards across the organization.

Primary Duties

• Prepare CAD drawings including plans, profiles, sections, and details for contract documents based on input and guidance from design staff and in accordance with internal drafting standards.
• Maintain drawing files, sheet sets, CAD standards, and other digital files in accordance with internal procedures.
• Prepare graphics for engineering reports, professional papers, and presentations.
• Perform CAD design work including surface generation and manipulation, grading, site layout, structural drawing, and quantity takeoffs.
• Maintain printers and plotters for efficient use by the office.
• Perform training of other technical staff on drafting standards, requirements, and procedures.
• Participate in professional trainings to develop and implement new skills related to various disciplines and advances in technology.

Skills and Qualifications

• Completion of postsecondary education, AS or BS preferred, with a degree or certification in Drafting and Design or equivalent practical experience.
• Minimum 7 years of drafting and design experience at a consulting engineering firm or production design organization.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD Civil 3D, including developing CAD drawing sets and figures from base data such as survey, GIS, point cloud, and engineering sketches.
• Experience in other CAD software including Autodesk Revit, Autodesk Inventor, Solidworks, and MicroStation.
• Ability to develop large, multifaceted drawing sets based on existing data and engineering sketches.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills and ability to work efficiently in teams.
• Positive attitude with the ability to work well in a team environment.

Sitting at the intersection of civil engineering and construction documentation, the CADD Designer leads the creation of layout drawings, grading plans, and structural fabrication drawings for industrial and environmental projects. Operating across field investigation, site grading, and as-built documentation, this role enables project teams to meet client design needs with innovative and technically sound deliverables.

Duties

• Create construction layout drawings including site layouts, earthwork, quantity takeoff, and grading plans for structures, plant support information, roads, and fencing.
• Prepare layouts for field investigations such as borings, wells, geophysical test points, and survey points.
• Develop cross sections and topographical profiles.
• Prepare construction as-built drawings and report figures.
• Produce structural design and fabrication drawings.
• Contribute innovative and practical contributions to project designs to meet client needs.
• Travel domestically to project sites as necessary.

Experience and Qualifications

• CAD certification from a technical school or training organization.
• Minimum 3 years of related CAD experience in civil engineering and construction industries, with land development and construction work experience desired.
• Experience with AutoCAD Civil 3D 2018 or later.
• Experience with structural design and fabrication drawings for reinforced concrete and steel design.
• Experience with industrial facility layout and design, including excavation and site grading, with GIS experience desired.
• Strong understanding of urgency and deadlines, with the ability to complete work with minimal oversight.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills, with demonstrated ability to interact with technical staff including engineers and scientists.

A key member of the transportation design team, the CADD Designer delivers design support across roads, bridges, utilities, and commercial and municipal projects from planning through construction. Collaborating across disciplines, this role leads utility relocation consulting and design document preparation that enables clients and project teams to resolve complex transportation engineering challenges.

Functions

• Provide design support during the planning, design, and construction of civil engineering projects such as roads, bridges, utilities, water and sewer, and various commercial and municipal projects.
• Consult on utility relocation of electrical poles and lines, substations, fiber, and cable systems.
• Develop design concepts and present to clients, prepare documents during design development, correct and update design documents, and develop solutions to design problems.
• Check accuracy of completed work and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Demonstrate strong organizational, project, and time management skills, and be proactive in determining necessary steps to meet objectives.

Technical Qualifications

• Associates degree in Engineering, Civil, or CADD design-related majors.
• Minimum 10 years of transportation design engineering project experience.
• Previous work experience with DOT utility projects preferred.
• Proficiency in MicroStation, InRoads, and GeoPak software, with familiarity with DOT plan structure required.
• Knowledgeable in industry-accepted engineering design software and standard operations, policies, and procedures within the AE industry.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Word and Excel.
• Strong team player with the ability to multi-task and manage multiple projects simultaneously.

Accurate and code-compliant structural designs for temporary works depend on the CADD Designer, who develops preliminary and final designs for steel, wood, concrete, and manufactured structures supporting active construction projects. Based within an engineering team, this role builds construction design documents using AutoCAD, Revit, and Civil 3D and enables safe project delivery by meeting schedule requirements and quality standards.

Accountabilities

• Work with the engineering team to develop preliminary and final structural designs for temporary structures including steel, wood, concrete, and manufactured items supporting construction activities.
• Detail structural elements including concrete reinforcement and steel connections.
• Use AutoCAD, Revit, 3D modeling, and Civil 3D software to develop concepts and construction design documents.
• Meet project schedule requirements and deadlines, and communicate progress with the task lead.
• Provide additional support on civil and geotechnical temporary designs.
• Follow company CAD and quality standards.

Position Requirements

• Associate Degree or equivalent preferred.
• Up to 2 years of experience in CAD production of structural designs and plan sets.
• General knowledge of engineering principles and structural materials, with background in bridge design and construction preferred.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD products, with knowledge of Revit and 3D modeling as an asset.
• Basic skills in Microsoft Office products, Bluebeam, and ProjectWise.
• Strong critical thinking skills with the ability to plan ahead, conceptualize, and recognize discrepancies with attention to detail.
• Clear communication and collaboration skills when working with engineers and designers.

As the CADD Designer, this role produces CAD drawings, alignments, profiles, and 3D surface models for new and reconstructed roads and highways using MicroStation and Inroads. The highway design team relies on this work to maintain drafting quality standards, mentor junior staff, and deliver accurate quantity take-offs and QA/QC reviews across roadway projects.

Operational Focus

• Produce CAD drawings for new or reconstructed roads and highways including plans, profiles, sections, and details using MicroStation and Inroads.
• Develop road and highway alignments, profiles, and 3D surface modeling.
• Perform quantity take-offs from CAD and surface model files.
• Apply and integrate various client CAD standards into CAD templates.
• Assist in the education, development, and mentoring of staff and act as a resource for CAD design questions.
• Perform QA/QC on work products from other CADD design and engineering staff.

Background and Experience

• Associate Degree in Engineering Technology or a related discipline.
• 3 to 15 or more years of CADD highway and roadway design experience.
• Proficient in MicroStation with previous Inroads or Open Roads Designer experience, and Civil 3D experience as a plus.
• Previous NYSDOT, NYSTA, and Locally Administered Federal Aid Project experience preferred.
• Willing to work independently and collaboratively as a team member, with interest in developing, coaching, and mentoring others.

CADD Designer operates AutoCAD Civil 3D and MicroStation InRoads and OpenRoads systems to develop plan sets, construction drawings, and engineering figures for civil infrastructure projects across federal, state, and municipal clients. The work directly supports project managers in delivering compliant, schedule-driven design documents by assessing requirements, coordinating with engineering and planning staff, and maintaining established drafting standards.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• Operate computer-aided design systems including AutoCAD Civil 3D and MicroStation InRoads and OpenRoads to resize or modify integrated designs.
• Develop plan sets including sheet organization, detail development, and interdisciplinary coordination and review.
• Assess quality of drawings and initiate changes needed to comply with established standards.
• Design in accordance with industry standards and state or federal construction policies, and meet project schedules and deliverable deadlines.
• Assess project requirements, break projects into tasks, and work with project managers to determine and confirm scope of work.
• Produce computer-generated graphs, charts, overlays, and completed drawings from sketches, notes, and other input materials.
• Analyze reports, maps, drawings, tests, and aerial photographs to plan and design projects in support of project managers.
• Confer with planning, engineering, and design staff to determine design modifications and enter editing information into computer.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in civil engineering design.
• Experience with NMDOT, Federal, and local municipality plan production.
• Extensive knowledge of AutoCAD, MicroStation, InRoads, OpenRoads, and Civil 3D.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel to project sites as needed.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with strong attention to detail and excellent judgment capabilities.
• Ability to organize work, manage multiple concurrent projects, and consistently meet deadlines.

The CADD Designer owns the timely delivery of technically compliant design solutions for residential and commercial construction projects, managing consultant liaison, sub-contractor scope, and design risk across the full project life cycle. Working alongside design consultants, sub-contractors, and onsite teams, this role shapes project outcomes by providing value engineering solutions and technical guidance that keep large-scale builds on programme.

Key Deliverables

• Manage the timely delivery of technically compliant, cost-efficient, and quality design solutions for the project.
• Liaise with consultants and manage the delivery of design information throughout the project life cycle.
• Establish the scope and design responsibilities for sub-contractor work packages and the associated design and procurement programme.
• Schedule and chair workshops with design consultants and sub-contractors.
• Provide value engineering solutions and identify and manage risks from drawings, specifications, and project programme.
• Ensure daily activities, progress reports, and site records are documented and communicated to key personnel.
• Provide technical guidance, resolve critical site issues, and assist with site management and safety inductions.

Professional Experience

• Degree in Architecture or a design-related qualification.
• 3 to 7 years of design experience with a main contractor on Design Builds, Refurbishments, and New Builds.
• Competence with Construction Design and Management Regulations and UK Building Regulations.
• Proficient in AutoCAD and design software including MS Office Suite, with good knowledge of controlled document management systems.
• Strong leadership and organisational capabilities, skilled in meeting deadlines, with the ability to work under pressure and manage a demanding workload.
• Proven ability to work to programme on large-scale projects with excellent references and a strong track record in the industry.